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PENN'S PLEA FOR eAMERON 



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THE FIRST PROPRIETOR'S REASONS 
FOR SUPPORTING GENERAL BEAVER, 

AS COMMUNICATED THROUGH 

/■ 
/ 

LOUIS BELROSE, JR. 












Copyright, i88a, by Louis Belros'5. Jr. 



My life was often weary, but the grave 

Gives me good rest. Of all that I could do 

For peace of hands and hearts and ease of all, 

The wage was only man's ingratitude. 

Therefore, I keep the grave. A hundred years 

Are gone from my last coming, and the same 

Thence to that time when all my fairest hopes 

Brought me to this fair land. Two hundred years ; 

And full of wondrous changes War, the curse 

That curseth those who win with those who lose, 

Had made a nation of our settlements 

When last I came. And then that act was fresh 

Which took from mine the rights proprietary 

Got with their blood from me. But while I grieved, 

The power of the name of Liberty 

Fell as of old upon me, and recalled 

These words, writ large for mine own governance, 

Ere I set sail from England, *' I'll not leave 

Myself or my successors any means 

Of doing mischief, so that one man's will 

Never may hinder an whole country's good." 

I said within myself, the land has grown 

So far beyond the need of tutelage, 

That heirs of mine though rightful lords therein, 

Might now delay the fair accomplishment. 

So thinking, turned and went and slept again. 

How little is the wit of little man ! 

The passions of the sire when tricked anew 

With small device of merest travesty 

Seem in his children changed. My wisdom, too, 

Has turned to folly. Those I took when last 

Among you here for men of so great worth 

As neither brooked nor needed hinderance 

I find as you best know. 'Twas scandal then, 

Even to name the word proprietor, 

And now your whole State lives it. Little men 1 

'Twas I, the fool, a hundred years ago, 

Who thought you grown beyond our tutelage. 

More fool but much less knave for thinking it. 

Yea, truly, now I know that some were born 

To rule and some to serve. The dreams of youth, 

The dreams I fondly carried to my grave. 

Are made of mist and nothing. Liberty 

Is but the catchword of a demagogue, 



PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

That slaves may mouth and serve contentedly. 

Yes, you did well ; one head to many hands 

Makes the work smooth, and then the head you chose 

Came with a heart for ruling fatherly. 

'Tis true my children's children might have held 

In stricter right of law, but barring this 

And that most natural leaning all men have 

Toward their own flesh, I grant no choice of all 

Could please me half so well. For who more fit 

By right ef gentle ways and peacefulness 

To take the chair of Onas* than the man 

Called Kickapoo, and for his kindness, chief 

Of Winnebagoes ? O'er the western wild, 

Fled from their ancient haunts, the red men still 

Remember Onas, and their tongues will praiie 

No name with his excepting Kickapoo. 

Is it then well your children here should rest 

In ignorance of what the savage makes 

A fireside tale in distant Oregon ? 

I know you plead your ruler's modesty 

And how lest some should think him vain, he buys 

And burns the printed story, but is this 

A reason ? Tell it forth in every school 

From every p.ulpit, every housetop ! aye, 

And do his will a gentle violence 

That all may know the worth of Cameron. 

How many pages written fair as this 

Have you for youth's instruction ? I have turned 

Leaf after leaf of all man's history 

And find none other like it. No, not one 

So filled with soul exalting charity. 

As when the sun through clouds of orient pearl 
Springs forth refulgent from the glorious east 
In pride of noonday splendor, so the fame 
Burst on the world of Simon Cameron I 
Ah, tell the tale again that all may know. 

'Twas eighteen hundred years and thirty-eight 
Since Christ our Saviour came, and but a year 
After the famous panic> which had left 
Disorder in the land, and trade was dulL 
But not so Simon, for his youth had learned 
How wary men may oft with most success 
Fish for the Lord in waters troublesome. 
All day, for he it was that kept the gold 
In that now famous ban-k of Middletown, 

*Indian word meaning a pen. 



4 PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

He toiled assiduous, but when even came, 
Strolling by Susquehanna, drank the wind 
From hills of Harrisburg, our capital. 
And dreamt the stream another Pactolus ; 
Dreamt that the golden sands were turned to gold, 
And he cashier of all Humanity. 

So, as he wandered fearing God, there came 

A messenger, O Providence, thy ways ! 

Bidding make haste and gird his loins and go 

Still westward to the Prairie of the Dog, 

Near where Wisconsm meets the greater stream 

Called Mississippi, for the government 

By pledge of treaty sent the quarter-breeds 

And half-breeds of the Winnebagoes there 

An hundred thousand dollars and as much, 

Less ten, to pay all justly reckoned debts 

Of these same Indians. Simon fell in prayer. 

Yearning with all true men, so once i yearned, 

To lift the savage out of heathen ways 

Up to the path of Christian righteousness, 

He thanked the Lord for opportunity. 

Traders with blunted conscience dulled by trade 

Sold the poor wretches rum, and villanous. 

That stole their wits from Christ. So, thought he, now 

If I by deft abstraction of the means 

Whereby this rum is had should make the same 

A thing unhav0able, the cause thereby 

Were much advanced. But here needs cautiousness. 

For evil men think evil and might say 

" Lo, Simon keeps the ^Id for love of it I " 

And he with meekness that becomes the wise 

Questioned his single power and made choice 

Of one deep-learned in the law, that so 

Nothing should turn amiss. Then went his way. 

And meditation went along with him., 

And that deep-learned man who knew the law. 

And, seeing times were changed, they heeded not 

Saint Luke, the traveller's guide, but took with them 

A goodly store of notes, all crisp and fresh. 

From that now famous bank of Middletown. 

Yet Simon, that the word might be fulfilled. 

Took but one coat and ever after found 

That one sufficed when turned judiciously. 

And lo, his heart went out to those wild men 

As now he stood among them ; only he 

Between their sodden souls and burning hell. 

He felt the strength of righteous purposes, 

And swore to brave man's utmost calumny. 



PENN'S P-LEA FOR CAMERON. 

Then fell he straight to work. The wily one 

Deep-learned in the law, whom he had brought 

Had seen the catiff traders and made known 

How he it was who best could plead their cause. 

Then Simon sat in judgment, dealing forth 

Certificates with skill intuitive 

For ninety thousand dollars, Indian debts. 

But here was small per cent, for these were white ; 

And little gain for Christ accordingly. 

But now of wider fields and profits clear, 

Sing, heavenly muse. O'erruling Providence 

Delayed the gold's arrival wherewithal 

The wicked major who disbursed the same, 

One Hitchcock, later major-general, 

Polluted savage souls, and this gave time 

For that deep-learned man who knew the law 

To spread among the half and quarter breeds. 

About an hundred, noise that naught would come 

Or little, and 'twere well to sell their claims. 

And eighteen hundred dollars sold for four. 

In good, crisp, fresh bank notes of Middletown. 

Then Simon sat in judgment, and allowed 

These claims, and gave certificates in all 

To ninety-two, of whom thirteen received 

In their own name or children's, nineteen more 

Held as trustees, while sixty were "in fact," 

Attorneys, and thereby suspends a tale. 

But Simon simply signed certificates. 

Though sixty thousand dollars had been snatched. 

So rumor said, from Satan's clutches vile, 

Without the Major of the regulars 

All was for naught, for he it was that paid. 

But when were arms the school of innocence ? 

What hope that he would hold the gift of grace 

To cull desert from strange appearances ? 

Alas, the villain raised the hue and cry. 

Hurling, "stop thief,'' till those at Washington 

Hurled in return, " stop thief," and he that ruled 

The War Department, Joel Poinsett named, 

Undid the work of Simon, swearing loud 

His ways were crooked, and no thing should stand. 

Then fain was he that knew the law to go 

And gather up those notes still crisp and fresh, 

That but for this mishap had nevermore 

Seen Middletown. And new men came, and lo, 

The Major honored their certificates. 

Paying out gold till Satan grimed again. 



6 . PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

Alas, how frequent fail the fairest schemes ! 
What deeds are done we know, but what remain 
Locked in the pregnant womb of fair intent 
No man can tell ; but these are worthiest. 
The very savage, cause of all his woe, 
Mocked and maligned and cursed, ignoring yet 
The deed's true inwardness. But Simon bore 
The weight of blame with, Christian fortitude. 
Not slinking from the world, a mangy cur 
That seeks some hole to die, as other men 
Needs must have done, but full of nimxbleness, 
Feeling his time not far. And made a vow 
To sink himself in deepest obloquy, 
Rather than fail in righteous purposes. 

States have their own and special providence. 

When those who get from fortune time to learn, 

Make greed their only god, and worship it, 

Or build a column out of vanity, 

Whereon to pass their lives and contemplate 

Their own sweet mystic sign umbilical, 

New men, who else had wallowed in the mire, 

Spring forth and take their places, governing 

By right divine of man's stupidity. 

Such, learning ail the deed's significance, 

Whereby great Simon sought the savage good, 

And seeing how much he was hke myself, 

Your state's original proprietor, 

Bethought them here was one to take my place, 

And make the people laws and govern them. 

Then he, because he dwelt in righteousness, 

Refused them not, but took the charge now borne 

Through thick and thin for well nigh forty year; 

Accepting, but for Christ, unwillingly. 

And so it came to pass in Forty-five 

That all the people, though they knew it not. 

Needed his presence sore at Washington. 

Whereof he mindful sought a way, and found 

A void was in the place of senator ; 

An aching void that he himself must fill. 

But when was Simon found irresolute '^. 

Another, Woodward named, a Democrat, 

Held of that side the pledge, and seemed secure. 

But Simon, also then a Democrat, 

Changing with acrobatic promptitude, 

Marshalled his new made friends, and bade them hope. 

But these were not enough, and how to gain 

The needful few was passman's fathoming. 

So Simon fell in prayer, and as he prayed 



FENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

Upon the shining banks of Pactolus 

(So named he Susquehanna, roUing gold) 

A miracle was wrought to comfort him. 

The setting sun stood still, and on the disk 

An eagle, mighty, bearing peace and war, 

Appeared refulgent, with the glorious words 

Of In hoc signo vinces; whereupon 

He rose and conquered. And from that day forth 

His speech was silver and his silence gold. 

But many marveled how the thing was done. 

Then first for this was urgent, seeing some 

Mistook the signs that pointed thitherward, ■ 

He strengthened, my omission warning him. 

The title of his rights proprietary. 

But those the Lord lifts up he sometimes leaves 

A season to themselves wherein to find 

How little but for Him, is all their skill. 

Thus when his time was out as senator, 

In Forty-nine, although he turned again 

To those his former friends, the Democrats, 

But few would listen, many passing by. 

And thus the man he praised for governor, 

A Democrat, went down in Fifty-four. 

And thus a few weeks later, though he changed 

And took the stronger side, the Know Nothing, 

This very man, named Bigier, worsted him 

At Harrisburg, and went as senator. 

Wherein was sore distress, for Simon held 

The plighted promise of the stronger side. 

But some who loved him not, a score and eight, 

Rebelled, and wrote down words accusing him 

Of "public plunder, private bribery," 

And such like scandalous iniquities, 

Swearing the caucus bought. Then Simon knew 

The Lord was gone ; so straightway fell in prayer. 

And lo ! the setting sun once more stood still. 

And grew, and grew, and grew, and thereupon 

An eagle, mighty, bearing peace and war, 

That grew and grew and grew, and those same words 

Were In hoc signo vinces. Whereupon 

He rose and conquered. Soon, 'twas Fifty-seven, 

The wise men met again at Harrisburg 

In consultation, seeking one to serve 

As senator, and lo the balance hung 

Even except for two or three who leant 

Away from Simon toward the Democrat : 

(For Simon sniffed the wind Republican.) 

Therefore remembering that o ith he'd made 



8 PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

To sink himself in deepest obloquy. 
Rather than fail in righteous purposes, 
He took upon himself some seeming wrong, 
And bought Lebo, Maneer and Wagonseller, 
Three Democrats. . 

But soon the curse of war, 
That curseth those who win with those who lose, 
Fell hot upon the land, and men grew wild, 
Which wrung the soul of Simon. Fearing God, 
He hated violence, and Heaven made 
This hate a blesssng, for when Lincoln came 
To govern you he found a bargain struck 
Between his friends and Simon, whereby he 
For service in convention took the place 
Of Secretary, choosing that of War. 
And all the North uprose and all the South, 
Till hope of peace went out,' for men were wild. 
And priests before their altars cried out '^ war ;" 
And maids and matrons, even little babes 
That watched their mothers' lips, cried out for war ; 
Till greed of gold gave place to greed of blood. 
And common thieves grew honest for an hour. 
While each one brought his life a sacrifice. 
Then Simon strove to make the best of it. 
Seeing no human power could quell the rage 
That drove men headlong to the field of death. 
His tenderness devised a stratagem 
(For nature's self had named him general) 
Whereby to pluck the sting of enmity. 
From Providence 'twas his to feed and clothe 
And arm the Northern hosts, wherein there lay 
Vast opportunity, for all was bare. 
And thus thought Simon, — If I give them means, 
How great the sum of slaughter ! Myriads 
Must fall unshriven, while the gates of hell 
Stand wide agape ; and I their murderer ! 
So thought, and swore an oath it should not be. 
Then, knowing well the peril should he trust 
Those bestial officers, the regular, 
He set them far aside and called his friends 
Most confidential, bidding them go buy 
All things an army needs, but have a care 
That none be deadly, neither fit for use. 
And also charged them pay the double price 
Lest Lincoln scent the ruse and ail be lost. 
Then each man went his way ; but soon returned 
With all things needful : shoes with paper soles. 
And martial costumes all the woof whereof 



PENN'S FLEA FOR CAMERON. 

Was felt and glue, and all the warp whereof 

Was felt and glue ; and blankets that were seen 

At even ere the dews began to fall, 

And vanished with the dews : and other such 

A thousand, whereof none could tell the use. 

But how to make pretence of armament 

Taxed their best skill till Simon told the tale 

Of how in youth despising God's command 

He stole to where a wandering company 

Played '* Julius Caesar," and beheld amazed 

A dozen ploughboys, taken for the nonce, 

Who, passing round and round behind the scene, 

Sufficed for Brutus' legions and the hosts 

Of Antony. His word was to the wise. 

Then arms condemned were sold for little price 

That this might go unnoticed, and were bought 

For more than all their worth ; again condemned, 

And sold for little price, and bought again 

For more than all their worth ; and these the same. 

But men were wild for blood, and congressmen 

With hearts unused to gentle purposes 

Caught wind of what was done and found it strange. 

Then taking Christian ways for crookedness, 

Chose a '' Select Committee to inquire 

Into the contracts of the government." 

Which, nosing, found out much. But long ere this 

The General, seeing all attempts were vain 

To keep tlie troops from arms, and knowing well 

Another in his place, from thirst of blood. 

Would make the gold buy twice as much as he, 

With abnegation indescribable 

Let scruple go and held to charity. 

Then he himself, not trusting those who served 

Beneath him, as another would have done. 

Contracted with his friends who knew his heart 

For deadly weapons ; till through him alone 

Were eighteen hundred thousand muskets bought 

Out of a nineteen hundred possible, 

The sum of all. But Simon, ever kind, 

Feared lest his zeal should make his officers 

Appear incapable, and gave it out 

That all was done bv -these ; so gave it out 

Even before the Senate, while it weighed 

The matter of his Russian embassy. 

Yet, ravening, like a wolf within the fold 

Of those his friends, that same Committee turned 

His acts to calumny, and made report 



lo PENN'S FLEA FOR CAMERON. 

Through Washburne, in December, Sixty-one, 

After a five months' search, of many things 

That outwardly appeared indelicate. 

Then offered resolutions, one of which 

Ran thus, ^^ Resolved^ The practice of employing 

Parties entirely irresponsible, 

And not connected with the Government 

Officially, to do the public duties, 

Which always may be properly performed 

By regular officers of Government, 

And purchasing by contract privately, 

Where fair and open competition might 

Be properly invited, injures much 

The public service, and does therefore meet 

The strong disapprobation of this house." 

All of the which, sustained by righteousness. 

The General would have answered, but the ways 

Of Providence are no man's ways at all. 

Upon the very day desired by him 

For explanation ; and so set by them, 

He wandered forth oblivious and was found 

Nowhere. But those who live are waiting still. 

Then many turned against him. Congressmen 

Of his own side, which numbered two to one, 

Finding him vile, and all the populace 

Cried '' treason," for they knew not what they did. 

So Lincoln raised his heel and would have sped 

Simon incontinent, but friends who knew 

The value of the Great Proprietor, 

Saved him this shame, and sent him Minister 

To distant Petersburg ; which pleased the Czar, 

Himself an autocrat. But even there 

Hatred went after him ; and having learned 

More than they knew before he took his leave 

In January, these same Congressmen, 

Led by one Dawes, in April, Sixty-two, 

Called up those resolutions, voting them 

By two to one. When Holman, worst of all, 

Added this heinous villany : " Rtsolved, 

That Simon Cameron, late Secretary 

Of War, by giving Alexander Cummings 

Control of large amounts of public money 

•Without restriction, and authority 

To purchase miUtary stores without 

Requiring from him any guarantee 

For faithful execution of his duties, 

When public officers, and competent 

Were near at hand, and binding government 



PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

To numbers vast of contracts, made vviih those 

Not lawfully engaged in doing business 

Pertainimg to the matter of such contracts, 

Especially in the purchasing of arms 

To be delivered at a future time, 

Adopted policy injurious 

To the public service and deserves therefor 

The censure of the House." And this was passed 

By nine and seventy to forty-five, 

Although his now sur^viving friends, who knew 

The value of the great proprietor, 

Worked hard with subtle reasons. Meanwhile he 

Was adding lustre to the Nation's fame 

In distant Petersburg. 

But Neva's banks, 
With all their leagues of stately palaces 
Had for his soul no charm, for still he yearned 
Toward Susquehanna. Then there came a voice 
That called as from a distance, warning him 
Of sudden danger to the cause he loved. 
For Buckalew the Democrat was named 
By his to take the place of senator. 
And his were more than Simon's by a man. 
So Simon left the Neva rapidly. 
And still remembering that vow he'd made 
To sink himself in deepest obloquy 
Rather than fail in righteous purposes, 
He drew his tablets forth and wrote thereon 
The words Lebo, Maneer, and Wagonseller. 
Then set down signs and figures, found their sum 
And wrote this down, dividing it by three : 
Whereat a smile illumed his countenance. 
And in the Russian tongue he murmured, " cheap." 
Then all his lieges flocked to welcome him, 
And joy was unconfined. Strong men with hands 
Where through had passed ten thousand stand of arms. 
And they undaunted, sat them down and wept 
For very tenderness. But time was short. 
And short the General's greeting. Only he 
Could save, and all his great heart urged him on_ 
Toward Harrisburg. He came, he saw, and straight 
The weakness of the foe was manifest. 
So, takmg on himself some seeming wrong, 
He sent his henchmen forth to sound their camp 
With offers of five thousand dollars dov/n 
To such as would go home : and finding one 
Named Boyer promising, they brought him in 
To where the General sat, 'twas in a bank, 
And there the General tempted him, and said, 



12 PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

" Ten thousand shall be thine if thou wilt vote 

For me, and one paymastership that's worth 

Three thousand yearly :" and he backed and filled. 

And, lo, the General saw him once again, 

There where he lodged, and named five thousand more, 

Whereat he backed and filled. And once again 

They met, and this was in the house of Don, 

Great Simon's son, the sub-proprietor, 

When twenty thousand dollars brought him to. 

Whereon was joy in Cameronia. 

Then thrice the dawning blushed and brought the day : 

And with the day came Boyer and the chief 

To where was lodged that henchman Patterson, 

Who did the business, Simon saying, "now 

Boyer the time has come, and wilt thou pledge 

Thyself before the caucus chairman here ?" 

And Boyer answered " aye " and it was done. 

But some whose ways were sin, not righteousness 

Flocked to the wise-men's hall, and in their hands 

Was growth of wood called bludgeons, menacing. 

Then Boyer, craven, for his heart had failed, 

Trembled and voted when the time was come 

For Buckalew : whereat, this only once, 

Great Simon swore an oath superlative. 

But here was not an end : the gift of grace 

To cull desert from strange appearances 

Lacked in their council, and the wise men said, 

" Let us inquire and take down statements sworn 

Of how the thing was done." And so they did. 

Then after all the truth had come to light, ' 

But not its perfect flower of inwardness, 

They passed a resolution ; so it stands, 

*' Requesting that the Governor instruct 

The Attorney General of the Commonwealth 

To institute proceedings criminal 

'Gainst Simon, William Brobst, John Patterson 

And Henry Thomas." But the Governor 

Belonged to Simon's side. Then all these names 

Were writ in gold upon the people's heart, 

Who knew they labored for the public good. 

And Patterson, because his soul was pure, 

Became in after years a Senator 

From Carolina. But the General 

Was wroth at Boyer's treason, seeing such, 

If such should spread, would make all government 

Impossible. And thereupon he gave 

The Cameronian Aphorism, thus, — 

** An honest man is one who when he's bought 

Stays bought." And lo, the wondering world admired, 



PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 13 

And wrote his wisdom in a thousand tongues. 

Then Simon bode his time till Sixty-seven ; 

Ruling his vast domain. These several checks 

Had taught him caution, and he learned therefrom 

To bind the leaders with a stronger bond 

To him and his, until when two or three -, 

Were met together for the public good, 

A half should hold and all the rest should hope 

To hold from him their means of livelihood. 

Wherein he prospered, for although the mass 

Might waver in their love or loyalty 

The men who pulled the wires that moved the mass 

Were ever one for Simon. So it came 

To pass that when they met at Harrisburg, 

In Sixty-seven, ail proclaimed that he 

Was Senator by right proprietary, 

Though still, for form, elected. And he held 

Thereafter if the rabble would or not. 

Instructing those, for such is policy, 

Who sought the votes of men that hated him, 

To curse him if they must, but get the votes 

And all should be forgiven at Harrisburg. 

So calmly passed his life till age^came on ; 
But age that ripened wisdom. Then he said, 
Musing, ** The time to reap the good Fve sown, 
Though long delayed must come, and it is well. 
But well to me were ill, if ill to those 
I leave behind." So musing, sought a way. 

How blessed is the father of a son! 

His feet can never falter, nor his eyes 

Grow weary : evening brings the dawn and day, 

Without the darkness : and the sting of death 

Is half removed. Lo, Simon had a son. 

Then passed he in review, for literature 

Had won his early love and held it still, 

All potentates who, having sons or heirs, 

Had given them a part in government, 

Or let them rule alone. But most admired 

The Roman Emperors, in that device 

Whereby their reigns so lapped, that death could leave 

No void. Augustus gone, Tiberius 

But held the whole of what was his before 

In part : and so with Titus, worthy son 

Of wise Vespasian, and associate. 

Thus Trajan held from Nerva ; Hadrian 

From Trajan ; and the pious Antonine 

From him, adopting for his son and heir 



14 PENN'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 

Great Marcus, last of these but first of all. 
So ran his agile thoughts along the list, 
From then to now, reposing most of all 
On Diocletian with his model farm, 
His C^sars and his famous cabbages. 

Then Simon pondered well and laid a plan 

To suit the time, the change, and circumstance. 

Himself would still remain proprietor, 

(As who should say, Augustus) while his son 

Taking the second, or the CcEsat^s place. 

Should rule as Senator. He willed it so, 

And so it was. But Donald, Simon's son, 

In many ways had proven worthiness. 

Surmounting that repugnance in his blood 

To temporal gain and gold, he'd made him rich, 

Yea, very rich, that means should never lack 

For righteousness. And when the means were got 

The ways were near at hand. Then, last of all, 

Great Grant, to show he loved the father well, 

And cast rebuke on those bad Congressmen 

Whose resolutions wrote him down a thief, 

Had made the son his warlike Secretary 

And though his chance was little or was null 

Beside the sire's, for all was peacefulness, 

Yet Donald did his best and did it well. 

So well that when his time was out with Grant's, 

Another, better band of Congressmen, 

From Pennsylvania, begged the President, 

Hayes, to retain him, which he should have done. 

Then Simon, for the form, in Seventy-seven, 

Resigned his seat, and Donald, for the form, 

Was legally elected Senator. 

And all true men rejoiced, for well they knew 

The populace no longer fit to rule 1 

And though they might remember ancient forms, 

Acknowledged here the hand of Providence, 

Which man may not resist. But cavillers, 

Blatant, with this and that, and " Liberty," 

*' Corruption," '' Self-respect," and all the long 

Vocabulary of the demagogue 

Stirred up the mass, or sought to stir, but failed. 

Then housed their wrath until the time was come 

For regular election to the seat 

That Simon gave to Donald ; Seventy- nine. 

When all the howling crew, and be it said. 

Some honest men betrayed by sophistry, 

Swore that the General's plan had given them 

For Senator a speechless imbecile 



PEN N'S PLEA FOR CAMERON. 15 

With just the wit to **' run a primary." 

But slander came to naught, and Donald holds 

By right forever and by form of law 

Till Eighty-five. 

But liegemen, citizens, 
Or what you will, the lengthy tale I've told 
Is not the prattle of a poor old man 
Who talks for talking, but a way that leads 
Up to the height from which with vision clear, 
The course you now should take, you now may choose. 
What do they tell me ? Has the State gone mad, 
That now between the rise and set of sun, 
You lose the lesson of a ceuntry ? <z^^p--c-Z^ c*z^ 
Can crack-brained dreamers who would turn me world 
To virtue with an edict filch your hearts 
From him whose wisdom tempers to your need. 
The wind of liberty, who keeps afar 
Tumultuous faction, that your lives may glide 
Unruffled to the peaceful shades of death ? 
Open your eyes and see. Behold a man 
Dragged all reluctant, by the hand of fate, 
To place and power ; mark the sacrifice, 
When once his heart perceived necessity, 
Of all that man holds dear to that one thing, 
The public good ! and pray what men are these, 
That talk of virtue ? virtue such as theirs. 
Befits fair weather. Give them praise and fame. 
And that just share of gold that wages bring, 
And they'll be virtuous ! what one of them 
Has proved himself as Simon Cameron ? 
What one of them, when no man else could know 
The motive in his heart, has sunk himself 
For righteousness so low that infamy 
Found for his deed no name ? But Donald holds 
By no such title, say you ? Donald holds. 
By this the best of titles, by the will 
Of him whose wisdom made you what you are, 
And keeps you so. But Donald, say you still, 
Has done no deed of fame, and we must have 
One famous in the halls of Washington ? 
Go to, such words are childish : deed of fame ? 
What man among you save himself and sire, 
And this much comes of blood, could for a day 
Conduct the vast machine of government 
Made for your weakness ? But you've done with it ? 
You cry corruption ? swear the wheels are greased 
With stolen gold that stinks of infamy ? 
The very pauper, robbed of half his alms, 
To make them run the smoother ? Silly men ! 
You noise too much the necessary ills 



1 6 PENN'S FLEA FOR CAMERON. 

That go with government, for these are few, 
And were they ten times more would still be few 
Beside the sum of good. For this one thing, 
That he despises both your praise and blame, 
And watches o'er you if you will or not, 
Is Donald worthy, if for nothing else. 
And this is in the blood ; on this depend. 

But no, the fears that love exaggerates 

Have made me bhnd. This empty noise that fills 

The grand old Commonwealth is but the cry 

Of windy malcontents, whom Donald's rule 

Keeps from the public crib. O patriots, 

Men who remember, spurn them, for their hope 

Is death to Cameron. And these would name 

A governor ! Immense ingratitude ! 

Who was it far away at Christmas tide 

That took this care upon him ? v*^ho, when all 

The land rejoiced was suffering the throes, 

The long, laborious travail of the mind^ 

That brought forth Beaver? Who, but Cameron ? 

And this is his reward ! The man he made, 

The man that lives to serve him, cast aside 

For petty jealousy. It canno tbe ! 

It must not and it shall not ! No, were these 

A thousand times their number, Providence, 

For faithfi.i Simon's sake, would conquer them. 

Then peace. Be undisturbed, and thank the Lord. 
Listen to those that rule, and learn to love. 
Let each one, conscious of unworthiness, 
Go grind his little private axe at home. 
And leave the State to statesmen. 

O my friends. 
Remember now the sad mistake you made 
In thrusting heirs of mine from government. 
And make no more. O people, multitude. 
Toilers, who break the stone that paves the way 
For giant monopoly, the stone that's sealed 
With human flesh and blood, remember all 
Your debt to Cameron. His name alone 
Is like a shield protecting poverty 
From bloated avarice. His enemies 
Are bodies corporate, his friends, the poor. 
And so from sire to son it still must be, 
For this is in the blood. And now farewell ; 
Farewell with this one hope, that when I come 
A hundred years from now, I still may find 
A Cameron the state's proprietor. 
I C C '9(1 



